November 3, 1941
Merseyside had a thrill-packed weekend in the sporting field. Beginning with a pulsating Merseyside “Derby” match at Goodison Park, when Everton beat Liverpool 5-3. The two grand “Derby” games have certainly created a new interest in war-time football in the area. Young Wally Knight, the Burnley player, was at Goodison Park on Saturday. He is now in the Navy, but I expect him to be turning out for Everton shortly.
Financial Success.
No matter what our clubs lose on regular matches there is no doubt that the “Derby” games come to offset losses. Following the big crowd at Anfield the previous week, when Liverpool won 3-2, there was 14,549 at Goodison on Saturday with receipts of £810. That means the clubs share receipts of £1,518 – a windfall in these hard times.
I did not think Saturday’s game came quite up to the Anfield match. Everton superiority in the second half made it just a little too one-way. Everton were good winners.
Once again Everton found themselves a goal in arrears almost before the game started, but they were never ruffled and their nippy forwards, whose main asset was ball-control backed up by diligently half-backs, gradually asserted themselves.
Done it was who scored for the Reds in 30 seconds, and after Stan Bentham had equalised and then placed Everton ahead the Reds battled back to half-time equally through the ever menacing Billy Liddell.
The Reds too, had a goal disallowed for offside and rightly so. Liverpool’s deadly attackers gave promise of goals early in the second half, but Everton held them, off and after Alf Hobson had made the save of the day off Tommy Jones free’ kick.
After Alex Stevenson began to weave his spells. Each of the three second half goals – to Bentham, Harry Jones and Jack Lyon – was due to the creative arts of Stevenson. It was one of the finest exhibitions of inside forward play I have seen since the champion days.
Liverpool were always fighting back strongly, and Cyril Done was presented with his 20th goal of the season by Liddell, but the Blues just had that extra skill and the Stevenson touch, which made all the difference. Neither Willie Fagan, nor Dick Dorsett, touched his true form.
Liddell was again the big noise of the Reds attack – what a grand player he is, to be sure – while Done and Berry Nieuwenhuys were always threatening danger, I was deeply impressed by the work of the wing-halves, Len Carney and Harry Kaye – this Kaye is going to be a good un’ – and Bill Whittaker brought steadiness at centre-half.
Hobson’s work was impeccable. Bentham brought that weight and incisiveness, which has been missing so often from the Everton attack. Yon was again on his top note, but I think Wally Owen is more serviceable at inside-right than on the wing. Tommy Jones had a grand last hour.
(Evening Express: November 3, 1941)
XX
"Play Up, Liverpool" 